Spinning toy



y 5, 1932- G. F. SARGENT I 1,356,226

SPINNING TOY Filed Feb. 5, 1932 Qra' for: FJO enf- Min -7r MFZM Patented July 5, 1932 GRAFTON F. SARGENT, F FIT'CHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS Application filed February 3, 1932. Serial No. 590,657.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide a combination of the common Whirligig or buzz-wheel toy, in which the spinning is caused by the twisting of the cords on opposite sides, with an ordinary top; to provide means whereby, with the device put up in the form of a Whirligig, it can be spun in the usual way and then the strings pulled apart so as to free the top from both strings and leave it spinning on the floor or other surface; to provide a construction in which very rapid whirling can be obtained by the employment of two strings, one on each side of the top; to provide a release mecha- 16 nism of simple construction and inexpensive to build which will simultaneously release thetop from both strings when a larger force is exerted upon. them to pull them away, so that the operator can develop the desired amount of speed, and to provide a construction for the usual purpose in which the mechanism will be simple and inexpensive.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

.25 Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which I Fig. 1 is a side view of the top by itself, shown in its natural spinning position;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same;

r Fig. 3 is a diametrical sectional viewshowing the device not in action and illustrating the strings and one method of attachment;

Fig. 4: is a view showing the operation of the device on the Whirligig principle;

' Fig. 5 is a view showing it turned into a vertical position ready for separation of the strings and the spinning of the top Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the strings separated and the top descending while spin- 7 is a sectional view like Fig. 3 showing a modification;

Fig. 8 is a plan of the same; Fig. 9 is a sectional view like Figs. 3 and 7 showing another modification;

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing a preferred form of the invention, and

Fig. 11 is a view of this form with the parts in the act of separating. In this invention the top itself consists of a balanced body 10 of any desired circular shape and a spindle 11, preferably passing through the bodyeXactly in the center and preferably the same on each end, furnishing a point at either endion which the top can spin. Through the body pass two parallel grooves 12, preferably on opposite sides of the'spindle extending nearly from one end to the opposite one.

. For the purpose of attachingtwo double 5 strings, or other flexible spinning members 13 at the opposite sides of the spindle, these strings are tied, looped, or otherwise secured to a pair of members 14 and 15. These members preferably are made of spring wire and 5 consequently are springs. They are adapted to be thrust into the top from opposite ends through the grooves 12. They are made bow shaped or U-shaped and are provided with means in the form of bends 16 and 17 fordetachably connecting them together. They are arranged so that two of these bends come over the other two in the grooves, and preferably within the area of the body 10, so as to hold them together and to the body, for the purpose of providing a firm enough structure so that they will enable the operator to use the article as a Whirligig as shown in Fig. 4;. These bends being located as they are in the body 10 near one surface thereof, hold to gether firmly enough for this purpose.

The Whirligig is swung around by use of the two hands until the top reaches a. high degree of speed, the parts then being in the position shown in Fig. 4. Now the Whirligig is turned so that the axis of the top is-in vertical position as shown in Fig. 5. The next step is to pull in opposite directions on the two strings 13 so that the springs 14 and 15, being subjected to an increased pull, will pull apart and separate from the top,-leaving it in the air with its spindle in vertical position. This is shown in Fig. 6. The top then falls to the surface of the floor, or whatever object happens tobe under it, and. continues to spin at a rapid rate. This constitutes a simple and convenient means for starting the top to spinning and it consists of few parts that will remain in order and canbe placed together again to restore the Whirligig to operative condition.

In the form shown in Figs. 7 and 8, instead of having springs for holding the two strings or cords 13 together, the body of the top and its spindle are constructed in the same way as before, but a pair of U-shaped members are provided to which the strings or cords are connected and these members 20 are pro vided with frictionally fitting wedges 21 and 22 respectively. These wedges fit into the grooves, one pair of wedges outside the other. It will be noticed that the angles of the wedges are long or obtuse so that they will fit to ether and hold the parts in position for spinning thedevice as a Whirligig in the same way as before. The slanting surfaces of the wedges, and the friction 011 the bottoms of the grooves caused by forcing in the two pairs of wedges, will hold the device for this purpose. On the other hand, they can be separated in the same way as before by a sudden pull and the operation is exactly the same.

In the form shown in Fig. 9 a different principle is employed for securing exactly the same results. Here the U-shaped members 25, which are connected with the strings or cords 13, are of larger dimensions and are '5: formed as a pair of permanent magnets.

They extend into the body 10 only a. short distance where their fiat ends come against two pieces of steel 26 or soft iron located at the grooves 12. The magnetism is arranged to be of such strength that it will hold the other.

device for spinning as a Whirligig and can be separated in the same way as before and achieve the same results.

In the preferred form shown in Figs. 10 and 11,'the strings 13 are connected with a pair of U-shaped wires 28 and 29 located in the grooves. In this case the wire 28 is of general U-shape but contracted in the center so that its ends are parallel with each In the closed position'indicated in Fig. 10, the other wire 29 has its concave outer ends 30 in such position that they pass over the convexed end of the wire 28 and hold it in that way. The spindle is located inside this wire 29. The pull, exerted in the same way as before, of course springs these wires apart by the expanding of the wire 29 and releases the top as before. The wire 29 is located in grooves in the side of the spindle while the wire 28 can go into the same grooves conveniently or into the center of the spindle.

In all the forms shown, this device constitutes a combination of two well-known toys. Of course it can be used for either of the ordinary purposes but it is capable of servin the purposes of both. A high degree of momentum can be worked up by the Whirligig so that the top will spin very rapidly. Release is simple and works effectively at all times. The use of these springs,

or other devices as shown, does not materially decrease their effectiveness. As seen, the release mechanism may be of various types. The spaces for the springs, or other devices used, can be formed by means of the grooves described or by holes through the body 10 of the top as desired.

Although I have illustrated and described only a few forms of the invention, I am aware of the fact that other modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but what I do claim is 1. As an article of manufacture, a toy comprising a top body and spindle, the body having grooves longitudinally located on opposite sides of the spindle and extending through the body, and a pair of connecting members of yielding nature having legs extending into said grooves from opposite sides and having rounded projections by which they fit each other and prevent displacement under ordinary circumstances but allow detachment thereof upon the exertion of an increased pull, the rounded projections being located inside the body.

2. As an article of manufacture, a toy of the class described having a top body and spindle, a pair of strin s on opposite sides of the body, a wire connected with each string, each wire having a convex end in which one string is attached, one wire having two ends converging toward each other over the other wire, the first wire passing through said body, whereby the two wires will hold together under ordinary circumstances but will pull apart on the exertion of an extraordinary force.

3. As an article of manufacture, a toy comprising a circular top body and spinning spindle fixed thereto and extending therethrough, the body having a pair of grooves extending through it, and a pair of holding members on opposite sides of the body, each holding member-having two le s provided with two offset holding means, the four holding means being located in said grooves for preventing the two members from being pulled apart'or away from the body under ordinary circumstances but susceptible of being pulled apart by an extraordinary force.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

GRAFTON F. SARGENT. 

